Most educators will agree that the first year of teaching is the hardest. Having an experienced teacher to share the struggles and successes with is vital to keeping good teachers in the teaching profession. The PSU Abington program allowed my teacher to have this experience. I can't wait to see the growth that this teacher will make due to her experiences and guidance that was provided.
Everyone could use more support when they start a new job. At Penn State Abington, faculty work hard to ensure that graduates are career ready. However, our faculty also recognize that there might be unexpected challenges for new teachers as they translate the important skills that they leaned in our degree program to actually enacting those skills in a classroom without the consistent support of Abington faculty.
Teri Dodaro and Dr. Boni Wozolek
Faculty in the Teacher Education Program also recognize the nationally high rates of teacher attrition within the first five years post-graduation. As a result, education faculty are concerned with facilitating student success during their time as Abington students, while being mindful about the next phases in our students' careers. It is with this deep sense of care for our students' long-term success that Professor Teri Dodaro and Dr. Boni Wozolek created the Teacher Education Mentoring Program (T.E.M.P.) in 2022. This unique program pairs alumni who are successfully under contract as a first-year teacher with retired educators whose professional experience mirrors that of the alumni's school demographics. The goal is to create as strong a foundation as possible—from our classroom to the future teachers' classrooms. In fact, this is exactly why we named the program with an acronym that reminds us that while being new is temporary, a strong foundation lasts a lifetime. It is our hope that we can give eligible students who wish to participate in this program the best opportunity to be successful educators across their careers.
Thus far, the program has been incredibly successful, with nearly 100% of our alumni signing a contract for their second year. In fact, this program has been so successful that administrators from various schools have agreed to ensure Abington students are included in at least the first round of the interview process for open positions in their schools with the hope that the student will be selected to receive support from this program. We are also able to offer alumni who participate in this program a modest stipend to help them set up their classrooms, which is often an unexpected cost that teachers endure. Spaces to participate are limited, so students in their final academic year at Abington should reach out using the contact information below.
Generational Talent ascd article.
"Having a mentor is the same as having a best friend. You're able to vent and get what you need off your chest with no judgement, but with endless support."
The mentoring program has done wonders for me as a first year teacher. I have gotten so many more tips and tools on how to be an effective educator. It has been so comforting to know that I have strong support system, someone who goes above and beyond to help me at any time during my year and someone who genuinely cares about me and the education field. I would highly recommend the mentoring program to every first year teacher because without it, it would be more difficult to transition from student teacher to teacher. It is so important for first year teachers to have this support since they will also have so many new responsibilities that can be overwhelming. The help is so appreciated!
The mentoring program at Penn State Abington has helped me greatly when beginning my first year in the Philadelphia School District. Nervous at first, my amazing mentor allowed the stress to decrease in the beginning of my school year. My mentor and I have talked several times about strategies that I was struggling with in which she could help. She is always available, stays positive at all times, and has been such a help throughout the first few weeks. I am so glad I was able to join such a supportive and rewarding program!